All the Little Lights(116)

I stood. “I saw Mrs. Mason put the remote in the drawer of the end table,” I said before he closed the door.

“Thanks, babe.”

I crossed my arms over my middle, hugging myself and grinning from ear to ear. He’d never called me that before, and I didn’t know I was the kind of girl who would like that—actually, I was definitely not the kind of girl who would enjoy such things. But the sound of Elliott so casually loving me filled my entire body with an indescribable joy. I was giddy. Those two simple words made me feel euphoric.

I froze. All my clothes were in the laundry room. “Crap,” I hissed, reaching for the door.

Elliott knocked. “Catherine? Your clothes are dry.” He slipped a clothes basket into the small opening he’d made. “You can still wear my hoodie. It looks good on you.”

“Thanks, babe,” I said, feeling brave enough to try it out since he had. I took the basket, and he left an arm in, reaching for me. I took his hand, and he pulled my hand through the small opening and kissed it.

“I love you, Catherine Calhoun. No matter what happens, know that.”

His words felt like a sunrise, a sunset, a beautiful dream, waking from a nightmare. It was every wonderful moment balled into one. “I love you, too.”

“I know. That’s how I know everything is going to be all right.”

“I’ll get dressed, leave Mrs. Mason a note, and then we can go,” I said through the door. I slipped his hoodie on over my shirt that now smelled like Mrs. Mason’s bright house instead of the dark, dank Juniper.

“I’ll be here when you’re ready.”





Chapter Thirty-Four

Catherine

Leigh carved into the chicken enchilada casserole, making twelve perfect squares. She sat next to John, puffing out a tired sigh.

“It looks amazing,” I said.

She smiled at me from across the table.

Elliott leaned over a votive centerpiece holding a white candle, fake snow, and a few pine cones to scoop out a square for me. He placed the layers of tortilla, sauce, shredded chicken, and avocado on my plate, and then proceeded to do the same for his aunt, uncle, and his mom to his right.

“If you like it,” Elliott said, sitting after he scooped two pieces for himself, “remind me to get the recipe from Aunt Leigh before we move.”

“We?” Kay asked, raising an eyebrow.

“College or traveling,” Elliott said, shoveling a large piece into his mouth. He sat back and hummed as he chewed.

Leigh smiled. “Elliott, something came for you today.”

“College or traveling,” Kay deadpanned. She looked to me, and I froze midbite. “So which is it?”

“I’m . . . not going anywhere. I have to help Mama run the Juniper.”

Elliott wiped his mouth with his napkin, craning his neck at me. He laughed once, nervous. “Catherine, I thought we’d decided.”

“No,” I said simply, taking a bite.

“You’re really staying here?” he asked.

I widened my eyes to signal that I didn’t want to discuss it in present company, but Elliott showed no signs of backing off.

“C’mon. You don’t wanna stay here. Tell me I’m wrong,” he said.

“I told you. I don’t have a choice.”

His eyebrows pulled together, unimpressed with my answer. “Yes, you do.”

He watched me, and I scanned the table, shrinking under everyone’s stare.

I cringed. “I can’t leave her.”

Kay smirked, happily popping casserole into her mouth.

“Elliott,” Leigh said, stopping her nephew before he said anything else. “Just wait a second. Something came for you today. I want you to see it before this conversation gets much further.” She stood, turning for the living room, and returned within seconds, an envelope in her hand. She held it in front of Elliott, and he took it from her, reading the front.

“It’s from Baylor,” he said.

“Open it,” Kay said, turning to face her son. It was the first time I’d seen her smile.

Elliott’s capable, large fingers turned clumsy as he tore open the seal. He removed the paper and unfolded it.

“Mr. Youngblood,” he read aloud. His eyes glanced from left to right and then back again, bouncing over the paragraphs. He closed the paper and placed it next to his napkin.

“What?” Kay said. “What does it say?”

“It’s about the scholarship. They want a verbal commitment in seven days.”

“That’s kind of early, isn’t it?” Leigh asked.

“I’m not sure,” Elliott said.

“They’re doing it earlier and earlier,” John said. “This is good news. Baylor is your first choice, right?”

Elliott turned to me. “Catherine—”

“Don’t look at her,” Kay said. “This is your education. Your decision. You said Baylor was your first choice.”

“Mom,” Elliott warned. His confidence around his mother had grown. He wasn’t afraid to hurt her anymore. She was no longer the only woman in his life, and I could see the recognition of that on Kay’s face.

He didn’t take his eyes off me.

“Verbal commitments aren’t a guarantee,” John said.